Traditional orchard meadows under climate change
StreuWiKlim
Traditional orchard meadows – in German, ‘Streuobstwiesen’ – are of high socio-ecological value as traditional, extensive agricultural systems. The combination of grassland and woody plants harbors considerable plant and animal biodiversity. They also provide important ecosystem services aside from fruit production; this includes regulatory services such as microclimate and water balance regulation. Furthermore, they are important in terms of recreation, landscape appearance, cultural heritage, and varietal diversity.
In the context of climate change, we know very little about the effects of e.g., changes in hours of sunshine and solar radiation, spring and fall temperatures, milder winters, and increasing dry spells on fruit production. Characteristics such as high varietal diversity, animal and plant species diversity, tree age diversity, and extensive land use suggest high climate resilience. Yet, we lack systematic assessments across regions of various environmental conditions of how observed changes are related to regional climate parameters, management measures and stand parameters such as biodiversity and structural complexity.
Together with 40 orchard managers across 4 regions in Bavaria, the project StreuWiKlim aims to: (1) assess the impacts of climate change on orchard cultivation in Bavaria; (2) identify factors that influence the climate resilience of Streuobstwiesen; and (3) develop region-specific adaptation strategies. We will examine to what extent different management practices, biodiversity as well as structural complexity contribute to the resilience of orchard meadows to changing climate conditions. We use participatory research approaches or Citizen Science to leverage the knowledge diversity of different stakeholder groups, where we see that farmers themselves have immense local expertise as land users, and are the ones who can benefit the most from research findings. In this project, knowledge generated through 'Farmer Science' is a cornerstone of the research process.
Network building
The first step is to recruit interested orchard managers for the project. The aim is to recruit a total of around 32-40 experienced orchard managers from four to five different regions in Bavaria to participate. The study areas should represent a wide variety of locations and climates and differ in their management methods. At least 8 areas per region should be investigated.
Partner
Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften Weihenstephan-Triesdorf (HSWT)
Funding
Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Forsten
Project duration
01.10.2022 until 30.09.2025
Team and Contact
Project Coordination TUM: M.Sc. Niclas Hoegel, T +49 8161 71-4765, niclas.hoegel(at)tum.de
Project Execution HSWT: M.Sc. Rebekka Honecker, T +49 8161 71-5162, rebekka.honecker(at)hswt.de
Lead of collaborative projects TUM: Prof. Dr. Monika Egerer (PI, TUM-UPE): monika.egerer(at)tum.de
Lead Workpackages HSWT: Prof. Dr. Markus Reinke, T +49 8161 71-3480, markus.reinke(at)hswt.de
Scientific Advisor: Dr. Julia Schmack, j.schmack(at)tum.de
Scientific Advisor: Dr. Susanne Raum, susanne.raum(at)tum.de